How to Deal with Stress as a Developer?

Introduction

When people think of programming, they often think of good working conditions, high pay, a variety of work, and the opportunity to train and work in large corporations. All of the above is correct, but there are some aspects of programming that are rarely discussed. As a result, people frequently have the wrong idea about developers, believing that their work is a simple way to make a lot of money, which is not the case.

Because IT companies compete fiercely, each one strives to provide the best possible working conditions, the possibility of high earnings, a diverse range of job opportunities, and the opportunity for training for its employees.

All of the conditions mentioned are due to the job’s complexity as well as its attractiveness to workers. Before all of these benefits become apparent, programming necessitates a significant amount of effort, sacrifice, and patience.

If you want to learn how to program, check out our post on the subject: How to Learn Programming?

In the following sections, we will explain some of the issues that developers face almost every day, but few people are aware of them except the developers themselves. Our goal is to provide some helpful hints for resolving these issues, thereby assisting anyone who is experiencing or will experience similar problems.

Absorbing too much information

A developer’s job is difficult because it requires regular code writing, meetings, testing of one’s code, and, most importantly, constant learning. All of these things can be exhausting on their own, let alone all at once.

Because technological advancements occur at breakneck speed, many new frameworks, libraries, and even programming languages appear in a short period, as do new versions of them. Gone are the days when knowing one programming language and perhaps a few additional libraries were sufficient for a successful career.

As a result, junior developers frequently face the problem of absorbing too much information. Other developers face the same issue, albeit to a lesser extent due to their greater work experience. As an example, consider a library on which a portion of a project relied; in the next month, that library may release a new version or be decommissioned, necessitating additional work for the developer on that project. Of course, a more experienced developer will fare better in this situation.

A solid foundation of fundamental knowledge is essential for resolving such issues. It is critical to understand the fundamental concepts of any library or programming language.

High presence of stress

Almost every programming problem can be solved in multiple ways, but the developer must know which solution is best for the current situation, which comes with experience. Sometimes it takes longer to find the best solution to an existing problem, so depending on the person, certain developers may experience stress if the problem remains unsolved.

Every problem has a solution; however, a significant amount of stress arises when the deadline approaches and the solution to the problem have not yet been found. Deadlines are set by the developer in collaboration with project management. Things like this happen all the time in the developer business, and anyone interested in getting into it should be aware of it.

Constant exposure to high stress causes oversaturation at work, which can lead to a variety of issues, including reduced work quality, dissatisfaction, and a loss of motivation for future work and improvement. Developers refer to this as burnout.

The solution to this gap is successful time management, maximum productivity during working hours, and more frequent breaks.

The developer must be able to balance the amount of time he has available for work with the number of tasks he must complete. Each developer is unique; someone can work effectively for 6 hours, someone for 3 hours, and someone can only work for 1 hour. As a result, every developer must understand himself and his capabilities. Maintaining focus in programming is especially difficult today, especially when the problem solution is extremely complex. This is where taking breaks comes in, allowing developers to relieve any excess stress they may be feeling at the time.

Maximum productivity is only possible if the developer is stress-free.

The discipline of writing code

Beginners in programming lack experience, so they lack a developed awareness of how important code discipline is. A developer who is not a beginner and has not developed an awareness of the discipline of writing code over time is in an even worse situation. Such a developer becomes a problem for both himself and the team with whom he works.

As a result, frameworks were developed to ensure that all developers wrote code in the same manner. The framework compels the developer to write clean code that every developer on the team can use indefinitely. If there is no code discipline, whether a framework is used or not, team members are forced to waste a lot of time understanding the code if they are to continue, and in such cases, code refactoring is frequently used as a solution to this problem. It is sometimes better, faster, and simpler to write clear code from the start rather than continue writing already complicated code.

Another option is to write tests to ensure that the code is correct. Developers who write tests for their code have a keen understanding of the discipline of writing code and ensuring its correctness. Of course, extra effort is required, but it is not something that cannot be learned and will not pay off in the long run.

Isolation and loneliness

This problem does not affect all developers, but a large number of developers must have encountered or are still experiencing it. Sitting at a computer and programming for at least 8 hours a day sounds fun in theory, but it is not easy in practice and frequently leads to feelings of loneliness and isolation. A developer’s job entails working with people, such as working in a team with other developers, attending meetings, and communicating with clients, but this is in comparison to some other jobs.

The solution to this problem is to increase the number of social activities. When we say an increased number of social activities, we do not mean that the developer must force himself into social activities that he dislikes, but rather that he must pay attention to and maximize the social activities in which he already participates. A simple example is improved communication with coworkers and team members on the current project. Participating in team-building activities that are appropriate for the developer. Increased participation in daily meetings. If the developer has no social activities, he should start working on them as soon as possible; communication is always a good place to start.

Programming is a complete world in and of itself, and as a result, developers can easily isolate themselves unconsciously, leading to self-doubt. It is now clear to us why the previously mentioned balance is so critical.

Conclusion

The items we listed can exist separately but also concurrently, posing a significant problem for the developer. The point is that the more stressed you are, the less productive you are, and this creates a cycle of negative thinking. As a result, such things are worth mentioning and very important, and they must be addressed.

As previously stated, every developer is different; some struggle well with these problems and solve them on their own, others have large problems and require assistance, and some do not have these problems at all or experience them with ease.

Because each developer is unique, it is their responsibility to assess their situation and, if necessary, apply some of the above guidelines. Furthermore, all of the guidelines apply to both freelance developers who work from home and self-taught beginners who are preparing for careers as developers.

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ELEPHANT SOLUTIONS širi granice poslovanja po uzoru na SVJETSKE TRENDOVE

ELEPHANT SOLUTIONS, kao najpoznatija bijeljinska IT kompanija, je u četvrtak otvorio vrata novog poslovnog prostora.

IT poslovni svijet je odavno upoznat sa našom Elephant Solutions kompanijom i vrhunskim timom koji svakodnevno napreduje u svim sferama softverskog inženjeringa. Osim rješavanja izazova za klijente širom svijeta, kompanija je poznata i u segmentu društvene odgovornosti, ali i kao jedan od najpoželjnijih poslodavaca za sve mlade IT stručnjake iz Bijeljine.

“U periodu od 2013. godine konstantno stremimo unaprijeđenju poslovnih ciljeva i kvaliteta rješenja iz oblasti informacionih tehnologija što je zahtijevalo proširenje radnog prostora u 2022. Otvaranjem još jedne kancelarije klijenti i naš tim dobijaju potpuno novu dimenziju komfora”, istakao je Miloš Novaković, suosnivač i izvršni direktor kompanije.

U četvrtak, 6. oktobra, nova Elephant Solutions kancelarija u Bijeljini je i svečano otvorena, na adresi Atinska broj 15.

Ovim povodom organizovana je i koktel zabava za brojne zvanice sa IT scene, prijatelje i zaposlene u kompaniji. Velibor Maksimović, suosnivač i operativni direktor, je posebnu zahvalnost iskazao timu sa više od 30 zaposlenih istakavši da je njihovo povjerenje i lojalnost najvažnija karika za dosadašnji uspjeh, ali i osnovna pretpostavka za dalje napredovanje.

Više od 50 poslovnih partnera i saradnika iz Bosne i Hercegovine i Srbije je svojim prisustvom potvrdilo značaj Elephant Solutions na regionalnom IT nebu. Neki od njih su PulSec iz Beograda, Comtrade, Company Wall, Asseco See, Holistic Digital i drugi.

Galerija događaja:

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ServiceNow – ITSM & ITIL

Introduction

The ServiceNow platform provides a variety of products, one of which is Information Technology Service Management (ITSM), which is part of IT Workflows. In addition to ITSM, the term Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) is frequently used. Understanding these terms enables the user to use this product successfully with all of the additional benefits provided by the ServiceNow platform.

If you are unfamiliar with the ServiceNow platform, we have written a separate blog post about it What is ServiceNow?

In this post, we will define ITSM and ITIL and discuss the differences between them.

Information Technology Service Management (ITSM)

ITSM is made up of three major components. We can deduce the following from the name:

• Information Technology
• Service
• Management

The components mentioned above can work independently, but also in tandem. ITSM is defined by the combination of these components and their interaction.

The first component, Information Technology (IT), is simply hardware, software, and all IT resources.

The second component, service, is typically defined as the transformation of a business problem or opportunity into an IT solution. The most common example is a software application developed as a solution to a real-world business problem. Services are everything that IT does to add value and make a difference.

The third component, management, is an activity that ensures that IT services provide maximum value.

People in today’s world have become increasingly reliant on various IT services, particularly when it comes to business.

ITSM can be defined as an activity that combines the three previously mentioned elements: information technology, services, and management in order for the organization’s IT department to deliver services or solutions that provide the most value.

ITSM is more concerned with users than with IT systems.

The goal of ITSM is to ensure that the organization is constantly improving its ability to produce IT services that are valuable to the company.

Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL)

ITIL comes after ITSM. ITIL was developed as a set of best practices for improving ITSM, resulting in higher quality in the development of new IT services.

ITIL’s mission is to maximize the value of information technologies.

ITIL encompasses several concepts:

Value

Value is a critical factor that is carefully considered. The goal is to balance the value exchange so that both parties (service provider and service customer) benefit. When it comes to value, there are a few instances where one-sided value has proven to be beneficial.

Output vs Outcome

Output is the result of an activity or IT service, whereas outcome indicates how useful the outputs are. Always aim for the best results. However, if the outcome is not satisfactory, then the output must be different.

Utilities & Warranty

A utility can be defined as what something does and what its purpose is, whereas a warranty can be defined as how it works, whether it is safe, available, of good quality, and so on. The rule is that both must be present in service.

Service

What exactly is a service? Service is defined as adding value by facilitating the outcomes that clients desire while avoiding certain costs and risks.

Service Offering

This concept is based on the provision of one or more services to a specific group of clients and includes the exchange of goods, services, or access to resources.

Service Management

A set of specific organizational capabilities for providing value to clients through a variety of services.

Service Relationship

Service is the result of collaboration between the service provider and the service customer.

Organization

An organization can be represented by a single person or by a group of people, each with its own set of functions and responsibilities. Organizations are both service providers and consumers of services.

Service Consumer Roles

• Client
  • Determines service needs and comprehends the big picture.
• User
  • A user is someone who uses the services.
• Sponsor
  • The sponsor approves the service relationship.

There are several versions of ITIL. ITIL 4, which was released in 2019, is the most recent version. ITIL 4 is regarded as the most adaptable and agile version to date. This version introduces the Service Value System (SVS), which is based on the idea that demand and opportunities are input values from which IT products are generated as output.

Conclusion

ITSM and ITIL are not common terms, but they do have meanings. They provide a different approach to problem-solving in the IT department because they encourage questions about what we are doing, how we are doing it, and whether we are doing it in the best way possible. Because ITSM is such a broad term, it has its certifications that include ITIL.

If you are interested in ITSM or ITIL, you can find more details on the official website What is ITSM? or What is ITIL?.

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What is ServiceNow?

Introduction

Glassdoor named ServiceNow the best place to work in the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK) in 2022. The company employs over 17,000 people worldwide.

This platform is made up of both employees and customers. Customers are mostly medium and large enterprise businesses from all over the world.

ServiceNow

Every large company, even if it is not an IT company, has an IT department. However, in such companies, the IT department’s goal is not to directly contribute to the company’s earnings but rather to assist the company’s business department and, together with them, increase the possibility of earning. For such businesses, the IT department alone is an expense.

To achieve the goal, the business and IT departments must work in tandem to ensure that business operations are understood by both parties. This collaboration boils down to exchanging business problems in exchange for an IT solution or service.

In theory, this sounds simple, but in practice, miscommunication is common because the business department understands business operations much better than the IT department. Because of this issue, some business operations are frequently repeated and take much longer than they should.

ServiceNow was created to address this issue. It is a platform that enables the business department to solve business problems without involving IT. ServiceNow Now is a cloud-based Application Platform as a Service platform (aPaaS).

The Now platform consists of:

• Infrastructure
• Platform
• Applications
• Workflows

The Now platform uses these elements to support all of a company’s IT needs, acting as a replacement for the entire IT department and performing cloud-based functions.

How does ServiceNow work?

The business department can tailor the platform to their specific requirements. The platform is accessible via computer or phone.

Infrastructure

The infrastructure includes several elements:

• Hardware
• Security
• Service level agreements
• Backups

Hardware refers to the data centers that house all of the platform’s computing power.

Several certified technologies protect the platform.

Data centers are linked together to provide redundancy and failover. Each layer has built-in redundancy, such as devices, power, and network resources, and non-stop operation is enabled.

Every day, a large number of backups are created to ensure that a client’s data is not lost.

Platform

The platform employs a single data model and database. It allows for the creation of custom applications and workflows that can be easily integrated into the platform.

Applications and Workflows

The platform includes a large number of configured and ready-to-use applications and workflows.

ServiceNow divides applications into four workflow types based on functionality. Workflows are classified into the following categories:

• IT Workflows
• Employee Workflows
• Customer Workflows
• Creator Workflows

Each of the listed categories has subcategories that address the company’s specific needs.

IT Workflows

• IT Service Management
• IT Operations Management
• Strategic Portfolio Management
• IT Asset Management
• DevOps
• Security Operations
• Governance, Risk, and Compliance
• Telecommunications Service Operations Management
• Operational Technology Management

Employee Workflows

• HR Service Delivery
• Workplace Service Delivery
• Safe Workplace Suite
• Legal Service Delivery

Customer Workflows

• Customer Service Management
• Field Service Management
• Financial Services Operations
• Telecommunications Service Management
• Connected Operations
• Order Management for Telecommunications
• Healthcare and Life Sciences Service Management

Creator Workflows

• App Engine
• IntegrationHub
• Manufacturing Connected Workforce

In addition to all of these subcategories, if the client is unable to find a suitable application that meets all of his business requirements, he can always create his own.

Conclusion

As previously stated, the ServiceNow platform operates in the cloud, so no local installation of these applications is required. Because ServiceNow has built-in tools for creating applications, the process is significantly sped up, as creating those same applications separately from the platform would take significantly more time and effort.

The main advantage of the ServiceNow platform is that it provides ready-made applications, and if an application is missing, it is not necessary to create it from scratch. Each prebuilt application is constantly improved, and the ServiceNow platform offers clients out-of-the-box solutions.

Finally, we can describe the ServiceNow platform as an application that lives or breathes because of how it works, rather than a single application that only represents a product for sale and purchase.

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